Bottle holder



Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,477

H. G. BAKER ET AL BOTTLE HOLDER- Fled-July 27. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l .EIB-.7. I 32,/

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l I I I I I I I I I I I I Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

unire staresv PATENT OFFICE.

HAL Gr. BAKER .AND JOHN B. MORE, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE nonnen.

Application 4Iiled July 27, 1926. Serial No. 125,193.

Uur invention relates to bottle holders of the type in which a bottle held in one container is secured in such manner that it: is necessary to place another bottlein the other container before the lirst named bottle can be removed. K i

rlhe purposes of the invention are: to provide containers ot improved construction;

to provide improved means controlling the insertion ot' bottles into the containers and their removal therefrom; and to provide an improved latch unit comprising a sheet metal base Yformed from a single sheet-metal blank7 and co-operating right and lett latch levers supported on said base.

ille attain these purposes by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a iront view oit a bottle holder embodying our invention; F ig. 2 is a vertical section through the casing and one container, taken on the line 22 oit flflig. 1; Fig. 3 an enlarged top view o the bottle holder; Fig. 4 is a vertical scction taken on the line 44 ot Fig. 3 and showing a bottle in one container; Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view of the detached latclrunit; Fig. 6 isa partial vertical section through the latch-unit taken on the line 6-6 oi' Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7`-7 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a top view of the sheet metal blank from which the base oit jthe latch-unit is formed.

Similar reference numerals and letters desviews.

rllhe principal elements of the mechanism are: a rectangular sheet metal casing 9; a centrally placed vertical partition lO dividing the casing into two equal compartments 12 and 12H; and two containers R and L, one in each compartment, hinged on a horizontal rod 13 extending the tull width or the casing; and one latch-unit, designated as a whole by the numeral 147 to be described in detail later.

The containers R and L are alike except that one is right and the other left7 so a description ot one will sui'lice tor both. The container F; iso'f sheet metal and comprises a front wall 15, two side walls 17 and a licor 18. In the lront wall is a hole 1G to receive the linger of a hand used toV open the container. In the floor 18 is an open ing l?) to accommodate an upwardly ex-A tending linger 32 which is part ofthe latch mechanism. A perforation 45 in one side wall is in range with the slotA 20 in the partition 10 when the container is closed. On

the upper edge ot each side wall is an upwardly extending member 29 which strikes against a stationary stop 46 on the casingV Vapproximately horizontal member 23 having an upwardly extending linger 24; an upright member 25 having an integral wedgeshape extension 26. (Fig. 4) and a hookmember 27. ylhe right hand latch-lever, designated as Aavwhole by the numeral l30, comprises an approximately horizontal member 31 having'an upwardly Vextending rtinger 32; and an upright member 33 having a wedge shape extension 34 and a hook member' 35.

rlhe base of thelatch-unit 14 is formed from a sheet metal blank B shown in Fig. 8.

The blank B comprises two members each having a perforation 221;'two members Z22, each having a lengthwise slot 3 and twomen'ibersbt each having a hole b5. The members b are bent upward along the lines ZJ to formthe ears 36. The ears are secured on the partition 10 yby screws 39, (Fig. 3) extending through the holes b1. The members b2 are bent kupward along thelines b3 to form the vslotted upright guides 38. The

members bt are bent upward along the lines 57 to form the standards 37. A bolt 40 extends through the standards and through the angular levers 22 and 30 and the levers oscillate on the bolt. The holes b1 and b5 and the slots 3 will be punched in the blank before bending.

The slots Z13 guide upward and downward movement ot the lever-members 23 and 31. A wire spring 41 coiled around the bolt 40 has members 42 and 43 which hook under the respective lever-members 23 and 31. Weight applied on the lingers 24 and 32 serves to stress the respective spring members and the spring members' act to raise l Oli the respective lever members Q3 and 31 as the case may be when theweight has been removed.

When the parts have been -assembled as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the bottle holder willv be in condition for use.

Operation.

10, thereby retracting the hook 27 from the` peitoration 45 in the side wall of the container R to permit the container .l to be opened. The lett hand container will then be locked and the right hand container will be unlocked and the spring member 43 will hold the member 31 in its raised position with its linger 32 eXtendin r upward through the hole 19 in the bottom 18 of the con- When the milkman comes to deliver the milk, he will open the right hand container and place a full bottle C therein, and will then close that container.

|lhe weight of the inserted lull bottle in the closed Container R will press the linger 32 downward to depress the member 31, resulting in stressing the spring member 43 and iietracting the hook v3f), as already described, to unlockthe container L. He will then open the container L and take out the empty bottle C; and thereupon the spring member 42 will act to raise the. member 23 to cause the member Q5 to nieve towards the right to retract the extension 26 Vfrom the perforation 44 and project the hook 27 into the perforation 45 so that upon closing the container' L it will remain unlocked in readiness lor the next operation, but the container R will remain securely locked until another bottle placed iu the container L.

A. bottle placed in the container L engages and presses downward the member 24 oi the lever 22 causing the member 27 to move toward the lel't out ot the perforation 45 in the sidewall et the container R, thereby unlocking it while the containerL remains locked. At this stage the spring member 43 holds the member 31 or' the lever 30 at the limit el its upward movement in the slot 3 causing the hook member 35 to protrude through the perforationv 44 in the side wall. of the eon-.

tainer L securely locking same; the container R! being then empty and unlocked, the mi will, nijnen tbe container and will.

place a bottle of milk therein and will close the container; the closing` of the container R will cause the filled bottle to press downward onv the linger 32 thereby causing the member ot'the lever 30 to move toward the right out ot the perforation 44 in the side wall of the container L thereby unlockingthat container. He will then open the container L and take out the empty bottle. Upon taking out the empty bottle and closing the container L, the spring member 42 will act to raise the member Qlto cause the member 24 to project upwardly through the hole 28 in readiness for the next operation. The raising of the member 23 will cause the member 27 to enter the perforation 45 in the side wall of the container R to lock that container, to protect the iilled bottle.

ylhe lower edges of the extensions 26 and 34 taper upwardly 'from the base to the point ot the extensions; these inclined edges ol the members permit them to slide on the lower edges el the perforations 44 or 45 while the containers are being turned outwardly on their hinges to open the containers.

The function of the members 26 `and 34 is to prevent opening ol' the empty containers by releasing the hook 27 or 35, as the case may be, by a stick or other instrument operated by hand.

rllhe upwardly extending lugs 29Von the side walls of the containers strike against a stationary stop 46 to limit4 outward turning oit the containers. The act ol2 opening an empty container brings the perforationV or as the case may be, out o'l line with the extensions 26 or 34 as the case may be.

lt the container R be opened as indicated in llig. 2 and it the member 32 could then be pushed downward, the member 34 would strike against the side Awall et the container l?. thereby preventing the withdrawal of the member 35 'from the perforation 44 in the side wall. olf thecontainer L, thereby keeping the container L securely locked.

The downward movement el the member 3l etl'ects two results, 1st, it "stresses the spring member 43; 2nd, it causes retraction et the hook 85 i'rom the perforation 44- thereby unlocking the container L; and si m larly the depre ing oi? the member 23 results in stresiugthe s-:pring'member 42 and causes retraction ot the hook 27 'from the itieriioration 45 therebyA unlockingl the ,container R. l l

lt to be noted that the members 26 and 311i; oit the respective levers 9.2' and 30 incline upwardly from the base to the point, to enable the members always to clear the bot tom edges ot the perforations ,4'4 or 45 as the case may be. whil'e the containers are being opened. wai uy inthe arcs of circles having their centers in the axis oit the hinge-rod 13 as indi-y cated at 45 in 2, llllien the portera rlhe periorations` travel up- Cil lli)

Cn A

tion in the side wall ot' .either container passes the point of the corresponding eXtension the side wall ol the container will keep the extension retracted until the container is closed again.

For example, the opening of the compara ment R' by hand brings the perforation 45 ont of line relative to the extension 34, hence if it should be attempted to push the linger 32 downwardly by hand, or by a stick used in the container, the extension 34 lengaging against the adjacent side wall 01"'- the con tainer would prevent the retracting of the hook 35, thereby avoiding 'unlocking ol the container L.

When a bottle C is in the container L and the container is closed, the perforation 44 will be in range with the perforation 45 which will permit the extension 26 of the lever 22 to enter the perforation 44 and will. also permit the hook 35 on the lever 30 to enter the perforation 44.

At this stage there will be a` bottle in 'each container; both members 23 and 31 will be depressed and both spring members 43 and 42 will be stressed and both hooks 27' and will be retracted, and either containermay be opened and the bottle may be 'taken out of that container and upon closing that container the proper hook 27 or 35 as the case may be, will engage in the proper perforation 44 or 45, as the case may lbe-to lock the other container.

In short when 'there is a bottle in a closed container and the other container is empty, the closed container will be locked and the empty container will be unlocked; it the empty container rvbe opened and a bottle placed therein and 'that container closed, both containers will be unlocked and the removal ot' ak bottle 'from' either container will result in locking the other container.

So long` as the containers L andR remain closed the upright members 25 anc 3.3, of the respective levers 22 and 30, are side by side in the lengthwise slot in the partition 10; the openings 44 and 45 are in line with each other andthe levers are free to oscillate left and right in the slot 2O and the extensions 26 and 34 are free to pass each other in the slot 20 to project the extension 26 through the opening 44, or to project the extension 34 through the opening 45, as the ease may be.

Vi'lhen the hook 35 retracted the wedgeshape extension 26 of the u pri ght member 25 oit the lever 22 will remain in the opening 44. yl`he only function et the extension 26 is to obstruct the space between the bottle C and the adjacent wall of the container L so that the hook 35 cannot be released by a stick or other instrument introduced into t-he container in an attempt to release the hook 35 which alone locks the container L; and similarly the hook 27 near the upper container.

end of the upright member of the opposite lever 22 is effective to lock the right hand compartment R. In short the right hand lever 3() alone controls the lockingl or the left-hand compartment and the lef,"- hand lever 22 alone controls the locking` of the right hand container.

The right hand spring member 43 (Figs. 5 and (i) actuates the lever 30 to cause the hook 35 to lock the container L and similarly the spring member 42 actuates the lever 22 to cause the hook 27 to lock the compartment R. Y y

l/Vhen bottles are in both containers both levers'22 and 30 are depressed; both springmembers 42 and 43 are stressed; both containers are unlocked and either one may be opened and a bottle may be taken out with the resultrthat the stressed spring under the compartment fromv which the bottle is taken will act immediately to cause the lockingl of thel opposite container.

Fig. 4 shows that the bott-le shown by dotted lines in compartment R is above the up.

per end of the vlinger 32, and it' the bottle were pushed downward to the full extent itwould depress the member 3l ot the lever (F 5 and 6) to operate the member to retract the hook and stress the spring 43; at that stage both of the hooks will be retracted and it the bottle C be removed the spring 42 will act imn'iediately to raise the member 23 to actuate the .member 25 to cause the hook 27 to engage in the perforation 45, and lock the right hand container. Y

When there is a bottle in the container R and the container is completely closed the Weight of the bottle on the upperend oi the finger 32 will depress the member 3l to move the member to the right vto cause the point lof the extension 34 to enter the `perforation 45 but that will not lock the container R. Both perforations 44 and 45 are of a sul cient width to allow extensions 26 vor 34; as the case may be, to' clear each other they move out of perforations 44 or 45 at the same time that the container R or L as the case may be; swings outwardly on the common axis 13. l

When bottles are seated in both containers, either container may be opened,but both containers cannot be opened at the same time. The opening ot' one centaine' alitoniatically results in the locking' of the other L'V'hen the ecmtainer lt is opened as shown in Fig. 2, the point ot the extension 26 will be inY contact with the outer surtaceol2 the adjacent wall 17 and the container must be completely closed before the member 34 can enter the perforation 45, and similarly the extension 2 6 cannot enter the perforation 44 until the container L is completely closed. .In Figs, 3 and 4 the numeral 9 designa-tes Vll() Cir compartment, each container consistingl ot a front member having a hole to receive the linger of a hand lor turning the container outwardly on its hinge, two side members, one having a perforation in range with the slot in the partition to receive a latch member when the container is closed, and a bottom member having an opening adapted to permit inward and. outward movement oif latch-operating means, and latch levers oscilf lative on a common airis and adapted to traverse the slot in said partition, each lever having an extension adapted to extend through the slot in said partition and through a perforation in the wall of' one container in range with said slot, and a hook member engaging on an edge wall of the perforation in the opposite container to prevent outward turning` ol the engaged container.

2. A latch-unit 'for bottle holders comprising a base having upright standards and upright slotted guides; angular' levers oscillative on a common axis supported on said standards and traveling in the slots in said lguides and each having an extension and a hook near one end ot' the lever, and an upwardly extending linger at the other end of the lever; and a single spring acting upwardly on one member ot each lever and effective to raise either lever independently ot the other. Y

3. li; latch-unit comprising a base of sheet metal having upwardly extended standards; upwardly extended slotted, members; upwardly extended ears perforated to receive means for connecting the latch-unit with a stationary' element and angular levers oseillative on said standards and traveling in the slots in said guide; in combination with a casing having a vertical partition with whichV said ears connected; and two hinged containers, one on each side ol said partition, said containers having perforations to receive members of said levers to lock the containers.

4L. Latch mechanism comprising a pair ot angular levers eseillative on a common axis, cach lever having a hook near one end and an upwardly extending finger at the other end; in combination with a pair oi' hinged containers parallel to .each other, each container having in one side wall a. perforation in range with said angular levers, said containers having openings to accommodate the upwardly extending lingers on the respective levers; single spring' stressed by a weight applied on the linger of either lever and acting to retract the hook on the same lever from the perforation in the side wall oithe opposite container to unlock the container opposite to that in which the weight is applied, and acting upon removal ot the weight `to return thelever to its original position and cause its hook to re-enter said perforation in the side wall of said rst named container.

5. A bottle holder comprising a casing, a vertical slotted central partition dividing the casing into two compartments; twov containers, one in cach compartment; a hinged element extending across the front of each d container at its lower edge; each container having in its side walls adjacent to said partition a perforation registrable with the slot in said partition and latches oscillative in the slot in said partition and engaging the adjacent side walls ot the respective con-V tainers to lool; the container in one compartment when a bottle is absent from the other container. Y Y

6. A bottle holder comprising a casing; an upright partition dividing the casing into two compartments, said partition having a lengthwise slot; containers in the respective compartments ;v a hinge clement connecting both containers at their respective lower` front edges, with the iront ot' the casing, each container having an opening registrablc with ythe said slot in said partition when the container is closed; oppositely acting levers oscillative on a common axis in the slot of said partition, each lever having at its Vupper part a hook member and a guard member, the hook member of each lever effective to lock one container and the guard of the otherlevcr effective to guard against release olf the engaged hook.

ln witness whereof' we have hereunto sigggned our naines at tlpringitield, {tanga-mon county, illinois, this 19th day of August '1925. v

HAL G. BAKER. JOHN R. MOUBE. 

